- 10 Abr 2009
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Finally...:D
Thanx to the Spanish SPAZE Team, plus good work from Mower/The_Ripper and Satommy, things are looking up for former AZbug HD, now earning the right to become AZbox... B) Once given the name in jest, according to its many flaws, both HW and SW-wise, It seems that after a few years of empty promises, it's finally getting ready to shed the shame and leave it behind for good... And not a minute too soon. I might add!!!:P
I am using Ravemaster's version of SPAZE image, which he enhanced by using the FIXed version of RTi's E2 v. 1.0. I saw on Satpimps that members of SPAZE would have wanted to have seen the FIXed version when they were coding their image. So, Ravemaster's contribution is well placed and timed! Some of the obvious flaws and big bugs are almost completely gone, so now the green screens are almost completely gone, the cogs are appearing but considerably less and they are gone sooner etc. Not perfect by any means but a huge step forward from many obvious flaws and frustrations to a proper Operating System, plus a few good additions by various coders, primarily by the members of SPAZE!!!
Once again, it was all possible, it is worth mentioning especially, through combined efforts of primarily The_Ripper + SPAZE good work and Ravemaster's quick thinking/acting on the issue, as soon as he saw and tested the SPAZE image!
Here is what Ravemaster himself said of it::
So.... Here we go...
How to install SPAZE version of RTi E2 image
I agree fully and wholeheartedly, this is by far the best image yet! However, it took me a while to learn how to install it properly and then add things to it, configure it all well and so on. Here is what I have done, starting from having the FIX version in my AZbox HD Elite, hoping to help those with less experience and even less "knowledge" than me. I remind you, I am no expert but a hobbyist, not from IT/Technical Sciences but Humanities, so if I can - anyone can...
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!!!
I started by preparing 4 out of my 5 free USB memory sticks, which are frequently a cause of headaches. Well, immediately, one of them couldn't be mounted and formatted, so there you go...
I went to my Ubuntu 11.04 OS and by using GParted application I managed to format 4 of them into Linux Ext3 format. The smallest and oldest is only 256MB (although biggest physically, hehe), while the biggest and newest (and smallest in physical size) is 16 GB. I had many a problem with the new one earlier, so I decided to try them all!
How does one do it? Well, one erases all the partitions on them, if there are more of them, then creates a single partition. So, one unmounts a USB stick, then erases all possible partitions and them makes a single new one. After that one hits the "apply changes" button. All you need to do after that is to "Safely remove" it from the PC, of course. One does that by going to "Folders" app and clicking on the PC icon in the middle, up of the Linux Browser. There one will see a USB device. Right click on it and choose "unmount" or "safely remove".
I also prepared psychologically, I convinced myself to be really patient this time, in order to actually save time, even though it would take longer to do it all really patiently and carefully. For almost every slightly bigger change I would press the MENU button on my remote control unit (RCU) and go to -> Standby/Restart -> Restart or -> Restart GUI. With Linux it is very important in order to activate changes done. Do not install many plugins, for instance and then restart!, if you value your time, effort and nerves: discipline yourselves and do a restart after each installation, erasing or deleting files or editing major settings!
Let's install the E2 image itself now...
I tried installing the image by using both AZUp 2.1.0 and JAZUp 2.3. Both will do the job. Standard installation of E2 -> one need a Rescue Mode, plus one of the two applications.
If, like me, one already has a RTi v.1.0 image, one needs restart from the back and press the > button, on the right side of the central button on the front AZbox HD panel - and hold it until one gets ones IP address on VFD/display. That is a Rescue Mode. One could also start JAZUp 2.3 and start flashing the AZbox HD. JAZup will detect that AZbox HD is not in the Rescue Mode and it will issue a command, thereby rebooting the box and sending it into Rescue Mode.
If one is starting from different images/OFW one must consult threads on good forums, such as this one, so as to inform oneself of the procedure. JAZUp will oblige, mind! :D
After the installation is finished and Wizard starts...
After the flashing of Ravemaster's version of SPAZE E2 image is done I did not allow the Wizard to "guide" me, except to choose a language and setup my Network, so that I can get plugins etc. from the net. I must say I did not choose DHCP but instead -> after choosing "no" one gets various details under that option. They should be OK. So, press OK on your RCU and get out of all the Menus.
Installing Flash Expander before all else!!!
Now - BEFORE ALL ELSE - I installed Flash Expander plugin. On RCU press HOME -> Download -> Plugins -> Flash Expander -> OK... When done - reboot.
Then, when E2 is up again, go to MENU -> Plugins -> Flash Expander -> OK to activate it.
When it is finished, Flash Expander will ask you if you want to "Restart/Reboot your Dreambox" :D If you are successful in that installation, of course.
In that case -> press OK and wait patiently for the machine to reboot!
If it takes too long or if you see anything other than "Reboot your Dreambox" - change the USB stick and try again, until you find one which will work!
This time around I was much luckier! As mentioned before, the first one I tried, the oldest and smallest USB stick I had, only 256MB capacity - just worked! What the plugin does is it moves /usr folder to the USB device, i.e. it connects /usr directory/DOM with the USB stick, thereby expanding DOM's capacity. DOM = your HDD in various menus. now AZbox HD sees the USB stick as a part of DOM. Neat!
Suddenly, my DOM was double the size (1/2 GB, all together). That gives one a peace of mind, not having to worry about congesting the DOM by experimenting with various plugins, skins etc. Also, one can relax and install all the picons, subtitles and CrossEPG data one wants, too! Test to your heart's content... :D You see, Enigma doesn't fair well with a "heavily loaded" DOM. So, all should be better now!
Later, when you install all manner of things, you can check for free space in HOME -> Information -> Storage and Memory. You will see that, obviously, your USB memory stick became a part of/extension of your DOM, that is to say, a part of AZbox's HDD. Had it not, you would have gone overboard a long time ago and everything would grind to a halt!
SWAP is already installed, so do not worry about that...
SWAP file is there in case you run out of working memory. It's necessary to have it!
However, in this case, do not worry about the SWAP file because SPAZE image makes one for you. It's 64MB on your DOM and that's enough - I am monitoring that parameter/function, too and it is almost not used at all. You can check for yourself like so: HOME button on your RCU -> Information -> Storage [USB, HDD, networked PCs and storage, like NAS] and Memory [the divided/partitioned DOM]. Not to worry if you see, at some point, one of the partitions approaching critical levels of around 98% of capacity! Now that you have Flash Expander installed it's OK...
(...part II to follow, as soon as I find some time...
Pe.tardo, m8 - please, start translating into Spanish... :D Thanx in advance! )
Thanx to the Spanish SPAZE Team, plus good work from Mower/The_Ripper and Satommy, things are looking up for former AZbug HD, now earning the right to become AZbox... B) Once given the name in jest, according to its many flaws, both HW and SW-wise, It seems that after a few years of empty promises, it's finally getting ready to shed the shame and leave it behind for good... And not a minute too soon. I might add!!!:P
I am using Ravemaster's version of SPAZE image, which he enhanced by using the FIXed version of RTi's E2 v. 1.0. I saw on Satpimps that members of SPAZE would have wanted to have seen the FIXed version when they were coding their image. So, Ravemaster's contribution is well placed and timed! Some of the obvious flaws and big bugs are almost completely gone, so now the green screens are almost completely gone, the cogs are appearing but considerably less and they are gone sooner etc. Not perfect by any means but a huge step forward from many obvious flaws and frustrations to a proper Operating System, plus a few good additions by various coders, primarily by the members of SPAZE!!!
Once again, it was all possible, it is worth mentioning especially, through combined efforts of primarily The_Ripper + SPAZE good work and Ravemaster's quick thinking/acting on the issue, as soon as he saw and tested the SPAZE image!
Here is what Ravemaster himself said of it::
So.... Here we go...
How to install SPAZE version of RTi E2 image
I agree fully and wholeheartedly, this is by far the best image yet! However, it took me a while to learn how to install it properly and then add things to it, configure it all well and so on. Here is what I have done, starting from having the FIX version in my AZbox HD Elite, hoping to help those with less experience and even less "knowledge" than me. I remind you, I am no expert but a hobbyist, not from IT/Technical Sciences but Humanities, so if I can - anyone can...
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!!!
I started by preparing 4 out of my 5 free USB memory sticks, which are frequently a cause of headaches. Well, immediately, one of them couldn't be mounted and formatted, so there you go...
I went to my Ubuntu 11.04 OS and by using GParted application I managed to format 4 of them into Linux Ext3 format. The smallest and oldest is only 256MB (although biggest physically, hehe), while the biggest and newest (and smallest in physical size) is 16 GB. I had many a problem with the new one earlier, so I decided to try them all!
How does one do it? Well, one erases all the partitions on them, if there are more of them, then creates a single partition. So, one unmounts a USB stick, then erases all possible partitions and them makes a single new one. After that one hits the "apply changes" button. All you need to do after that is to "Safely remove" it from the PC, of course. One does that by going to "Folders" app and clicking on the PC icon in the middle, up of the Linux Browser. There one will see a USB device. Right click on it and choose "unmount" or "safely remove".
I also prepared psychologically, I convinced myself to be really patient this time, in order to actually save time, even though it would take longer to do it all really patiently and carefully. For almost every slightly bigger change I would press the MENU button on my remote control unit (RCU) and go to -> Standby/Restart -> Restart or -> Restart GUI. With Linux it is very important in order to activate changes done. Do not install many plugins, for instance and then restart!, if you value your time, effort and nerves: discipline yourselves and do a restart after each installation, erasing or deleting files or editing major settings!
Let's install the E2 image itself now...
I tried installing the image by using both AZUp 2.1.0 and JAZUp 2.3. Both will do the job. Standard installation of E2 -> one need a Rescue Mode, plus one of the two applications.
If, like me, one already has a RTi v.1.0 image, one needs restart from the back and press the > button, on the right side of the central button on the front AZbox HD panel - and hold it until one gets ones IP address on VFD/display. That is a Rescue Mode. One could also start JAZUp 2.3 and start flashing the AZbox HD. JAZup will detect that AZbox HD is not in the Rescue Mode and it will issue a command, thereby rebooting the box and sending it into Rescue Mode.
If one is starting from different images/OFW one must consult threads on good forums, such as this one, so as to inform oneself of the procedure. JAZUp will oblige, mind! :D
After the installation is finished and Wizard starts...
After the flashing of Ravemaster's version of SPAZE E2 image is done I did not allow the Wizard to "guide" me, except to choose a language and setup my Network, so that I can get plugins etc. from the net. I must say I did not choose DHCP but instead -> after choosing "no" one gets various details under that option. They should be OK. So, press OK on your RCU and get out of all the Menus.
Installing Flash Expander before all else!!!
Now - BEFORE ALL ELSE - I installed Flash Expander plugin. On RCU press HOME -> Download -> Plugins -> Flash Expander -> OK... When done - reboot.
Then, when E2 is up again, go to MENU -> Plugins -> Flash Expander -> OK to activate it.
When it is finished, Flash Expander will ask you if you want to "Restart/Reboot your Dreambox" :D If you are successful in that installation, of course.
In that case -> press OK and wait patiently for the machine to reboot!
If it takes too long or if you see anything other than "Reboot your Dreambox" - change the USB stick and try again, until you find one which will work!
This time around I was much luckier! As mentioned before, the first one I tried, the oldest and smallest USB stick I had, only 256MB capacity - just worked! What the plugin does is it moves /usr folder to the USB device, i.e. it connects /usr directory/DOM with the USB stick, thereby expanding DOM's capacity. DOM = your HDD in various menus. now AZbox HD sees the USB stick as a part of DOM. Neat!
Suddenly, my DOM was double the size (1/2 GB, all together). That gives one a peace of mind, not having to worry about congesting the DOM by experimenting with various plugins, skins etc. Also, one can relax and install all the picons, subtitles and CrossEPG data one wants, too! Test to your heart's content... :D You see, Enigma doesn't fair well with a "heavily loaded" DOM. So, all should be better now!
Later, when you install all manner of things, you can check for free space in HOME -> Information -> Storage and Memory. You will see that, obviously, your USB memory stick became a part of/extension of your DOM, that is to say, a part of AZbox's HDD. Had it not, you would have gone overboard a long time ago and everything would grind to a halt!
SWAP is already installed, so do not worry about that...
SWAP file is there in case you run out of working memory. It's necessary to have it!
However, in this case, do not worry about the SWAP file because SPAZE image makes one for you. It's 64MB on your DOM and that's enough - I am monitoring that parameter/function, too and it is almost not used at all. You can check for yourself like so: HOME button on your RCU -> Information -> Storage [USB, HDD, networked PCs and storage, like NAS] and Memory [the divided/partitioned DOM]. Not to worry if you see, at some point, one of the partitions approaching critical levels of around 98% of capacity! Now that you have Flash Expander installed it's OK...
(...part II to follow, as soon as I find some time...
Pe.tardo, m8 - please, start translating into Spanish... :D Thanx in advance! )
